Is facebook killing forums, or are people talking too much?

So, as a webmaster, I do my fair share of lurking among webmaster's communities, and I see this brought up a lot "Is facebook killing forums?"

When really, Facebook is actually helping us because A)the pages and groups facebook have, also, have many people involved and posting among their groups/pages - its facebook's community, so if you're involved with Facebook, you can actually introduce your links, and yourself, and then tell people about your community, and if they like it, they'll join your community.

Trust me I had a few people that came from Facebook, and really, as an internet marketing - I hate when webmasters mention that a social networking site is killing our forums - we're not dying, inactive forum owners are to blame for the lack of forums' success, and quite frankly, if you're not devoting yourself to your community, then Facebook's community will be another reason to your forum's downfall - so really, what do you guys think?

Is facebook killing forums, or are people talking too much?

 

Facebook does drive some people away from forums but they won't die and with forums becoming more social network like they could be considered an alternative. The people that don't know much about computers, they use social networks. The people that know one or two things about computers, use forums. That's how I find it works.

 

I never understood why people worry about social networks such as FB harming forums. To me they are two different things and I dont see how it affects both in either way.

 

It doesn't really. Forums = social media as well, it started it, then the social networking sites came. I never saw anyone say "myspace is killing forums", so I don't see why they're saying it about FB - is it because FB is so huge, and they're afraid? But afraid of what exactly?

 

I agree, they are completely different. On facebook you just talk with people you usually know but on forums you talk to people all over around the world on certain topics.

 

Ya, and you know what's the good thing about it? You can talk to those people in the groups, then send them links to things that you write, and they like it on facebook for you = win.

 

Yea, forums are so much better... you will find so many helpful people on them.

 

Something forums will have and social networks wont have, is a topic everyone will like. Facebook is talking to your friends and staying in touch. Forums is talking about what you like. Maby there are topics that you can't talk to your friends about. But i don't believe forums will die. We just need more people into them.

 

Yea it would be nice if everyone knew what forums were just like how they know what FB, and Twitter is. I know for sure none of my friends have a clue what a forum is lol.

 

Same, i got my bestfriend into it and he said he loves it

 

That's what people should do, bring in new people to the foruming world. There should be a new movement called "Forum Awareness" lol.

 

"We have taken a new step in life, on the internet we have had a revolution, the forum act has been signed and everyones joining these awesome sites!" Lmao xD

 

LOL

 

Good discussion, I'd like to get this one up and running again.

What does everyone thing about what cpvr said up here?

 

I don't think Facebook is killing forums, forums are becoming more like facebook

 

I think the key is to incorporate the big social media sites like Facebook and Twitter ect.. etc... Into our websites and forums as much as we can.
For example on this site you can sign up and login with your facebook account and start posting on the forums in a matter of seconds if you wish.

 

Yea, I really like the idea of Facebook Connect but what I was referring to was the features such as profile comments, friends & statuses, etc. there are very few forum software that is just your basic users/groups/forums set-up as they have all gone towards the social networking aspect of it as well e.g. Xenforo & IPB

 

Excellent point there @Cerberus !
Also the Facebook ads can be highly targeted to specific demographics.

Good points as well

 

I heard that buying Facebook ads can be quite expensive, true or false?